Table of Contents
The determinant can always be of a square matrix. let A be a square matrix then we can express the determinant as det(A). it is a scalar quantity. Basically, determinant properties are used to find the value of the determinant with simple and least calculations. The properties of determinants basically depend on the row, the column and the element. The determinant is used to solve the system of a linear equation and also used to find the inverse of a matrix.
The formula for finding the determinant:
Now let us discuss how to find the determinant of the 2×2 matrix and the 3×3 matrix. Let A be a square matrix, then the determinant of a matrix A can be represented as |A| or det(A).
Determinant of 2×2 matrix.
Let A be a 2×2 square matrix.
Determinant of 3×3 matrix.
Let A be a 3×3 order square matrix.
Some important properties of determinants:-
- Interchange property:- the determinant value remains the same if the row and column are interchanged with each other. let us take an example of this
verify this Property for
Let we will expand along the 1st Row
.
= 2[0(-7)-5(4)] + 3[6(-7) – 1(4)] +5[6(5) – 1(0)]
= 2(0 – 20) + 3(-42 – 4) + 5 (30 – 0)
= 2 (-20) + 3(-46) + 5(30)
= -40 – 138 + 150
= – 28
- Sign property:- The sign of the determinant be change if any two rows and two column are interchanged each other. Sign of interchanged is ↔. It is also called as transpose property. Transpose of determinant can be expressed as
let us consider a determinant for this property.
verify this Property for
= 2[0(-7)-5(4)] + 3[6(-7) – 1(4)] +5[6(5) – 1(0)]
= 2(0 – 20) + 3(-42 – 4) + 5 (30 – 0)
= 2 (-20) + 3(-46) + 5(30)
= -40 – 138 + 150
= – 28
Now, interchange the element of Row -2nd and Row – 3rd
then, we get
= 2 [5(4) – 0(- 7)] + 3[(14) – 6(-7)] + 5[1(0) – 6(5)]
= 2 (20 – 0) +3(4+42) +5 (0 – 30)
= 2(20) + 3(46) + 5(- 30)
= 40 + 138 – 150Δ¹
Δ¹ = 28
= – (- 28)
So, Δ¹ = – Δ
Hence, this property is verified.
we can say that if any two row or column are interchanged with each other then value of determinant changes.
- Zero property:- Determinant value would be zero if any row or column in a square matrix are zero.
Let us take a example for this
= 0
- Identical Property:- If we see any two-row or two columns of any determinant are identical, then the value of the determinant will be zero. Let us verify with the help of an example.
Let us expand this determinant
= 3[2(3) – 2(3)] – 2[2(3) – 3(3)] + 3[2(2) – 3(2)]
= 3(6 – 6) – 2(6 – 9) + 3(4 – 6)
0 + 6 – 6
= 0
Δ = 0
In this example 1st and 2nd row element are identical and determinant value get 0 after expanding.
- Multiplication Property:- if each element of a row or column is multiplied by any constant k, then, in that case, the determinant value will become k times. let us take an example of this.
Here we can write, 102 = 6(17), 18 = 6(3), 36 = 6(6)
In the first row 6 is constant number
Elements of 1st row and 3rd row are same or identical
So, the value of the determinant is 0.
then, = 6 × (0)
= 0
Hence, Δ = 0
- Sum Property:- The determinant can be expressed as the sum of two or more determinants if the element of any row or column is expressed as the sum of the terms. Let us take an example of this
On solving the L.H.S
In the above determinant element of 2nd rows are the sum of two terms
So, we can write as
In the 1st determinant Row, 1st and Row 2nd are identical
we know that if any two-row or columns are identical, then the value of the determinant is 0.
Also, each element of 2nd row are multiple of 2
then
Row 2nd and Row 3rd are identical
= 2 × 0
= 0
= R.H.S
So, L.H.S = R.H.S
- Triangular Property:- If in a determinant all the element just above or below the diagonal is zero then zero elements in that make a triangle. so it is called a triangular property. then the product of it gives a product of the diagonal element. So we can write this type of determinant as
- Property of Invariance:- If each element of a row and column of a determinant is added with the equimultiples of the elements of another row or column of a determinant, then the value of the determinant remains unchanged. This can be expressed in the form of a formula as.
- Factor Property:- if a determinant Δ gives zero when we put x = α, then (x – α) is a factor of Δ.
- Determinant of cofactor matrix:- we can write the determinant element as
then
where 
denotes the cofactor of the element of 
in 1st determinant.
- Transpose Property:- Interchange and Transpose property are the same.
- Identity matrix Property:- If all the elements of a square matrix are one then the determinant value for this is 1. det(I) = 1.
- The determinant of a square matrix is also zero if all the elements of the matrix are zero.
- Let A-¹ be the inverse of a square matrix A, then det(A-¹) = 1/A-¹ det(A)-¹.
FAQ’s
What is a determinant?
The determinant is a scalar value that is associated with a square matrix. If A is a square matrix, then the determinant of this matrix is represented as | A| or det(A).
Q. Write any four properties of the determinant.
Ans. Interchange property
sum property
Identical property
Triangular property
Q. find the determinant of the matrix using property?
Ans. Let us expand this determinant
= 3[2(3) – 2(3)] – 2[2(3) – 3(3)] + 3[2(2) – 3(2)]
= 3(6 – 6) – 2(6 – 9) + 3(4 – 6)
0 + 6 – 6
= 0
Δ = 0
In this example 1st and 2nd row elements are identical and the determinant values get 0 after expanding.
